Carbon foil advantages
It's all about trade-offs. While a carbon foil can be stiffer, it will be as heavy as an aluminium mast. If the carbon foil is lighter, it will have lost some stiffness. The stiffness and performance of a mast are defined by its thickness and chord. The thinner the carbon mast (in thickness and chord), the more performant the mast. However, to be stiff, you must increase the amount of carbon and the quality of the carbon fibres to keep drag low and maximise stiffness. This is what we did in the Elite range of the 14 mm carbon mast.
Stiffness, responsiveness and durability. Carbon is stiffer than aluminium when high-quality carbon fibres are used, called: High modulus carbon. The layup plan of a mast is of fundamental importance and determines its torsional or flexural stiffness; if the layup plan is perfect, it will considerably improve responsiveness and control of the board at high speed. The stiffness of the carbon foil lets you feel sensations that are difficult to perceive with other materials. This is what we offer for the Elite 14 mm carbon foil version.
If you're looking for more lightness, we recommend the Solo 16 mm foil. It will be more than 1 kg lighter than an aluminium foil. The weight saving will be offset by a greater mast thickness (thus increased drag) while maintaining stiffness similar to the Elite 14 mm carbon foil. If your goal isn't setting speed records, the Solo 16 mm carbon foil may be perfectly suitable for you.
Finally, carbon is more durable than aluminium, which means it will last longer and require less maintenance if you take care of it.
Why does a carbon foil cost more than an aluminium foil?
A carbon foil is generally more expensive than an aluminium foil due to the quality and quantity of materials used, not to mention the complexity of manufacturing. Carbon is harder to work than aluminium, which makes production more expensive. In our Elite carbon mast version, we have 140 layers of carbon laid one after another in the mould.
The performance of the carbon foil
Improved responsiveness and control. The carbon foil improves the board's responsiveness and control thanks to its stiffness. It lets you become one with your equipment and makes your footwork more precise. Demanding riders can thus feel sensations that are difficult to perceive with other materials. Moreover, a reduction in the overall drag of the mast results in more manoeuvrability from the foil. You will feel gusts more pronounced and therefore the thrilling acceleration on the water.
SROKA offers three foil ranges to meet the needs of all riders
- The Classic range is designed for beginners and consists of three front wing sizes: 2000 cm², 1750 cm² and 1500 cm². These wings have a moderate aspect ratio, giving them maximum stability, accessibility and manoeuvrability. The size of the front wing is determined by where you will be sailing (strong or light wind) and your body size.
- The Control range is our all-round range: it lets you carve, progress and enjoy the excellence of the SROKA range with a generous dose of extra accessibility! Whatever your level, this range will give you control in all wind and sea conditions. It currently comes in two wings, 1250 cm² and 950 cm², with 820 and 680 cm² coming soon.
- Finally, the High Aspect range (the one with a high aspect ratio) allows, in large sizes, the feeling of a gliding plane with an incredible glide ratio and, in small sizes, speed will be the predominant factor.
The ranges come in three sub-categories:
- The Wave (W) sub-range is designed for foil surfing, offering better control and efficient pumping at low speed,
- The Lift (L) sub-range has a profile providing more power and more tolerance at low speed, with an easier start in light wind,
- And the Speed (S) sub-range has fast profiles providing maximum acceleration, high-speed stability and unrestrained gliding with better acceleration sensations.
We chose to limit our stabiliser range to 4 models, making the choice simpler for you, our customer. To suit every profile, our stabilisers can be used with shims to adjust them and thus suit all levels and all body sizes.
In short, the carbon foil is an ideal choice for riders seeking optimal performance. It offers unmatched stiffness, glide, responsiveness and durability compared with aluminium foils. If you want to improve your riding experience, the carbon foil is an excellent choice.